The holidays were full of traditions when Tara and Clayton Groth were growing up in Mosinee. Now the high school sweethearts are ensuring Christmas magic continues in their Cottage Grove home.
Tara, a nurse practitioner, blogger and craft company co-owner, and Clayton, a financial aid advisor, are mixing traditions from their childhoods with new activities for eight-year-old Sullivan and four-year-old Sydney.
Please tell us about your home!
We have been in our house for thirteen years! It is the only house we have ever bought and we think we are in our forever home. Both of us could see us in our house as soon as we walked in. We loved the big backyard and the green space around the house. We loved that Cottage Grove is a small community but only a short drive to Madison.
What do you love most about your house from a design standpoint?
I really love all the separate areas of our house! I know open-concept living is really popular right now and I think that works for so many people. We entertain quite a bit. Our entertaining crowd is a mix of adults and kids. We find that the adults gravitate to the kitchen/dining/sitting area and the kids — well, the kids take over the rest of the house while frequenting the kitchen for snacks and drinks. It is really nice for all of us to have our own space.
How did you get into interior design? What do you like about it?
Growing up, my mom really enjoyed making our house a home and decorating for the holidays. She was always rearranging furniture, crafting and DIY-ing something. I loved watching her and she let me be a part of the process. I got my creativity from her and the ability to execute my plans from my dad. They are involved in a lot of our bigger projects. I love working with them! No idea is ever considered impossible and they will go the extra mile and put in the labor to help make it become a reality.
I am greatly affected by my surroundings. The world is a scary place and we have stressful jobs. I find a lot of joy in creating a safe space for our family. It’s my love language to my family.
How have you approached decorating your house?
It really took me awhile to find a style I loved. There were plenty of design and decorating regrets along the way! I actually really like a lot of styles: modern, modern farmhouse, mid-century modern, boho, rustic, industrial, minimal, Scandinavian. But I probably lean toward Scandinavian, modern farmhouse and rustic the most. I try to create a space that is calming, clean and minimizes clutter. Everything has a home in our house and my kids know where it all goes!
What’s your approach to holiday decorating?
Honestly, that depends on the year! If I am already feeling overwhelmed before the season starts, I keep it simple. If I am feeling ambitious and motivated, I decorate a little in every room. Either way is okay! My Christmas decorating evolves as I do and as my kids grow.
My kids are pretty high energy and ready for “helping” most of the time. The problem is not usually how I get them involved but how I can allow myself to be okay with them being involved — I have to be very careful to not be critical of their contributions! I find that putting on some music and ensuring we have plenty of time for the task at hand is the best way for me to be supportive.
How do you get your kids involved in the holidays?
They are at such great ages right now! Christmas is a magical time for them without me making it magical. We focus on activities we can do as a family that are specific to the Christmas season. I make a DIY advent calendar each year and most of the days involve an activity we do together: baking and decorating cookies, drinking hot cocoa, driving around and looking at Christmas lights, watching Elf, buying and delivering a gift to a neighbor.
What were your favorite holiday traditions growing up?
I remember driving around and looking at Christmas lights with my family as a kid and going to the Christmas parade in town. Both my husband and I remember opening one present on Christmas Eve — brand-new PJs! We both spent Christmas day at our grandparents’ houses.
What will Christmas be like for your family this year?
We spend Christmas Eve at home. We allow the kids to open two presents each — PJs and a book. We make a nice dinner and typically watch a Christmas movie. We write letters to Santa thanking him and leave out cookies and milk. Christmas morning typically starts with my eight-year-old waking us all up so we can open presents! Then we get ready and head over to my sister-in-law’s house for the rest of the day. We typically celebrate with my family either the weekend before or the weekend after Christmas.
How soon after Christmas do you un-decorate?
I have all the Christmas decorations, including the tree, down by New Year’s Eve so we can start the new year out with a clean slate.
What other holidays get special treatment at your house?
Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Easter get some holiday decorating love around here!
Photos by Beth Skogen.